29: Chapter 1 Moving Forward with a Glimmer of Light

[ "Survival. Truth. Choice." ]

[ Coordinates: 89.11 by 301.4. 'Observation Point'. ] [ "Come find me. Face your problems." ] [ "Or, stay, and be crushed by 'Razor' and his employers." ]

The final message from "The Engineer" was like three cold scars, deeply etched into the oppressive darkness, carved into everyone's heart.

Survival. Truth. Choice.

Six words, weighing heavier than a thousand tons.

Inside the cramped hideout, the air had solidified as if it were a physical entity. Ling Yue stood where she was, her mechanical fingers opening and closing unconsciously. The Data Stream in her electronic eyes had long since calmed, leaving only a bottomless struggle and scrutiny. Lei Kun closed his eyes, his heavy breathing laced with unconcealable pain; every inhalation seemed to tug at the wounds all over his body. Lin Feng pressed his still-aching shoulder, clearly sensing the violently surging, silent turmoil between the two people beside him.

The canvas of trust had been torn open with a huge gash, and the icy seawater of reality was flooding in frantically.

Go? Head to that unknown "Observation Point" and face "The Engineer" who might be attempting to ascend to godhood, viewing them as mere tools and fodder? This was no different than voluntarily jumping into a trap that might be even more elaborate and inescapable.

Don't go? Stay in the chaotic quagmire of the "Silent Plaza" and face the even fiercer and more thorough purge coming from "Razor" and his employers? In their current state, that would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

This was a choice with almost no chance of victory. No matter what they chose, the road ahead was filled with thorns and abysses.

"Cough, cough..." Lei Kun suddenly coughed violently, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth again. He struggled to lift his intact right hand and wiped it. "...He/She is always like this... seemingly handing the choice to you... while in reality... having already calculated the answer..."

His voice was filled with exhaustion and a kind of resigned mockery.

Ling Yue looked at him sharply, her voice carrying suppressed anger: "So you knew all along? You knew what 'The Engineer's' plan might be? You knew we might end up being treated as 'fodder'? And you just watched us jump into the fire pit?!"

Facing Ling Yue's questioning, Lei Kun was silent for a moment before slowly opening his eyes. His gaze did not waver, showing only deep helplessness and pain: "...I don't know... much more than you do... just... some fragments... and guesses... 'The Engineer' never fully trusts anyone... The only reason I know this much... is perhaps because... for Xiao Qi... I still serve as a 'Stabilizer'..."

He looked at Xiao Qi, who was still unconscious, his eyes softening for a moment before hardening again: "...But I have no choice... Ling Yue... for you... this might be an investment... an adventure in pursuing the limits of technology or changing the world... but for me... this is just the only straw I can grasp... to let her... survive... to let her live like a normal child... even if this straw... is itself coated in poison..."

His words were honest to the point of cruelty, yet they carried a weight that made it impossible to blame him.

Ling Yue froze, the anger on her face gradually replaced by a complex emotion. How could she not understand such helplessness? Hadn't she also chosen to ignore those potential warnings and anxieties for the sake of a certain goal?

She took a deep breath, her gaze becoming sharp again, but no longer aimed at Lei Kun. Instead, she cast it into the void, as if piercing through layers of obstacles to lock eyes with the invisible "The Engineer".

"...'Observation Point'..." She repeated the coordinate in a low voice, "I know that place... near the ruins of an old-era space telescope... The terrain is extremely high, signal shielding is severe, and 'Sky Curtain' surveillance can barely cover it... But it is also easy to defend and hard to attack; once blocked, it's a death trap."

She looked at Lei Kun and Lin Feng, her tone becoming calm and decisive again, as if she had forcibly suppressed her previous struggle and returned to being the efficient analyst: "'Razor' suffered heavy losses, but his employers will never give up. The next ones to come won't be a small assault team; it might be organized elite 'The Cleaners', or they might even deploy a rapid response force under the official banner. If we stay here, we won't survive the next search."

"Going to 'Observation Point', at least... we can settle things with him/her face-to-face. Figure out what he/she really wants. Even if we die, we'll die knowing the truth."

Her choice was now clear. Rather than being crushed in confusion and passivity, it was better to charge into the center of the storm and seek an answer, even if that answer was lethal.

Lin Feng nodded. He didn't have as many complex entanglements as Ling Yue and Lei Kun, but his intuition told him that staying put was a dead end. Moreover, deep down, he had an irrepressible desire to investigate the truth about "The Engineer" and the "Source" System.

"I'll go with you," he said simply.

Now, only Lei Kun remained.

All eyes were focused on him. His decision was crucial, not just because of his powerful combat ability, but because of the special and fragile relationship he and Xiao Qi had with "The Engineer".

Lei Kun looked at Xiao Qi, who was still unconscious in his arms, watching the pained expressions that occasionally flashed across her pale face. His rough, large hand gently brushed her forehead.

After a long while, he raised his head, all the struggle and pain in his eyes replaced by a near-solid determination.

"...I'll take Xiao Qi... and go with you." His voice was low and hoarse, yet carried an unquestionable strength, "But if... if his/her ultimate goal... really hurts Xiao Qi... I will personally... end all of this."

This was his choice, and it was his bottom line.

The brief alliance, on the ruins of trust, was painstakingly glued back together based on the most realistic survival needs and the most fundamental mutual constraints.

With the goal set, action was taken immediately.

Ling Yue began to quickly plan the route and prepare. Using the remaining power in her equipment, she mobilized the last bit of resources available within "The Engineer's" permissions—a few surveillance blind-spot routes not fully locked down by "Razor", and information on a few potentially safe temporary transit points.

"We need transportation; it's impossible to reach 'Observation Point' on foot," Ling Yue said, frowning at the map. "And Brother Kun and Xiao Qi's condition must be dealt with as soon as possible."

She turned her gaze to Lin Feng, her eyes carrying a new, scrutinizing meaning: "Lin Feng, can that 'ability' of yours... besides interfering and optimizing... can it... 'borrow' something?"

Lin Feng froze for a moment, instantly understanding what she meant. She was referring to the act of interfering with "Razor's" equipment and overloading the power station's capacitors earlier. "I... I'm not sure... It's very dangerous... and it's uncontrollable..."

"It doesn't need to be fully controlled," Ling Yue's tone carried a calm, do-or-die resolve. "We just need to create a little chaos, a little opportunity. There's an old garage in the east district controlled by the 'Hyena Gang'; they have vehicles modified to adapt to the terrain of The Nest. We need one."

She transmitted the garage's location and structural map to Lin Feng. "I'll hack their perimeter alarms and access controls (hopefully 'Razor' hasn't noticed that place yet); what you need to do is make their internal surveillance and weapon systems... temporarily 'malfunction' for a few minutes when we get close."

This was an extremely risky plan, pinning their hopes on Lin Feng's unstable and resource-draining ability.

Lin Feng felt immense pressure, but looking at the severely injured Lei Kun and the unconscious Xiao Qi, and seeing the determination in Ling Yue's eyes that allowed for no failure, he nodded heavily. "I'll try."

There was no time for further preparation. Ling Yue injected Lei Kun with the last dose of potent stimulant and painkiller so he could temporarily support himself. She used the tattered clothing they found to cover their features as much as possible, especially Xiao Qi's conspicuous silver hair and purple eyes.

Subsequently, they pushed open the trapdoor leading to the chaotic world once again.

The madness of the "Silent Plaza" remained, becoming even more restless due to the previous commotion. The air was filled with a tense atmosphere, and occasionally, teams of people wearing the uniforms of different factions could be seen conducting intense searches and interrogations.

The three of them blended into the chaotic crowd, carefully moving toward the east district. Lin Feng operated the "Source" System at full capacity, >> Stealth Protocol: Active. Threat Detection: High. Constantly warning and avoiding potential dangers.

Finally, the old garage controlled by the "Hyena Gang" appeared in their field of vision. It was a courtyard enclosed by discarded shipping containers and steel plates. At the entrance, there were several guards with hyena tattoos, looking slacker-like but with fierce eyes. From inside, the sounds of vehicle engines and shouting could be vaguely heard.

>> Target: Hyena Den Garage. Perimeter Security: Disabled (Ling Yue). Internal Sensors: Active. Armed Guards: 6+.

Ling Yue made a gesture, indicating that the perimeter alarms had been resolved.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, focusing all his mental energy. He stopped thinking about the specific steps and instead projected a strong intent—{Chaos! Paralysis!}—toward the garage!

>> Attempting Wide-Spectrum EM Pulse Simulation (Crude)... Targeting Low-Shielded Electronics...

An invisible, chaotic pulse spread out from Lin Feng as the center! He felt his nose heat up again, his vision blurred slightly, and a stabbing pain shot through his brain!

The effect was immediate!

A chorus of exclamations and curses immediately erupted in the garage courtyard!

"Damn it! Why did the lights go out?!" "Why isn't my gun responding?!" "The surveillance screens are completely black! Fuck!" "Did it short circuit?!"

The interior descended into chaos!

"Now!" Ling Yue hissed, her mechanical arm slamming open the ajar side door, and the three of them rushed in like cheetahs!

Sure enough, several crudely modified off-road vehicles and hover-motorcycles were parked in the courtyard! Several guards were scrambling to check their malfunctioning equipment, completely unprepared for anyone to force their way in at this moment!

"Grab that biggest off-road vehicle!" Ling Yue's goal was clear. She rushed straight toward a modified off-road vehicle that looked the most durable and spacious, her mechanical hand violently ripping the door open!

"Enemy attack!" The guards finally reacted, drawing their backup machetes and live-ammunition pistols as they charged over!

Lei Kun stuffed Xiao Qi into the backseat, turned around, and used his intact right hand to pull out the last grenade hidden at his waist. He bit off the pin and threw it violently at the charging guards!

"Watch out, grenade!"

The guards panicked and threw themselves to the ground to take cover!

Boom!

The sound of the explosion and the smoke temporarily blocked the pursuers!

Lin Feng seized the opportunity to jump into the passenger seat. Ling Yue had already brute-forced the ignition system, and the engine roared to life!

"Hold on tight!" Ling Yue shifted gears violently, and the off-road vehicle, like a wild ox off its leash, crashed through the dilapidated courtyard gate and rushed into the chaotic streets of the plaza!

Behind them came the angry gunfire and shouting of the guards, but they were quickly left far behind.

They had succeeded! They had snatched a path to survival!

Ling Yue drove the rugged off-road vehicle, careening through the chaotic streets, speeding toward the edge of The Nest.

Outside the car window was the constantly receding, bizarre, and crazy world. Inside the car was heavy breathing and silence.

Lin Feng leaned back in his seat, exhausted, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out. Lei Kun held Xiao Qi tightly, his face flickering in the light of the car's headlights. Ling Yue drove the vehicle with focus, her eyes fixed firmly on the endless darkness ahead.

They had broken out of the direct encirclement of the "Silent Plaza", but the real danger had only just begun.

"Observation Point" hung in the darkness ahead like a giant question mark.

And their journey was heading toward an unknown dawn, or perhaps, a deeper night.

The beacons of the fourth volume had already been lit.